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Revealing Briefs

AUSTIN — Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson’s campaign announced Tuesday morning that several state leaders had joined his ranks as “co-chairs” for Texas.

Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott and Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson will both serve as co-chairs for the “Law and Order” actor’s presidential effort in Texas.

“Attorney General Abbott and Commissioner Patterson add great strength to our growing Texas organization,” said Randy Enwright, National Political Director for Thompson’s campaign in a Tuesday morning press release.“Their experienced leadership in Texas will be instrumental in helping Fred Thompson lead a successful campaign in the state,” he continued.

In addition to Abbott and Patterson, Texas Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo. who the Thompson campaign deems “another popular statewide official,” in spite of the fact that most Texans couldn’t name all three Railroad Commissioners, will also play a “prominent leadership role” according to the campaign.

Rodriguez Leads Fundraising In CD 23 Race

SAN ANTONIO — Texas Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D-San Antonio) holds a lead in third-quarter fund-raising for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District, according to reports from the Federal Election Commission.

The Commission lists Rodriguez as having raised $105,154.05 for the third quarter, making his total for the election cycle $1.38 million. He currently has nearly $600,000 cash on hand.

Quico Canseco, considered the favorite of the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee to challenge the veteran Congressman, didn’t have a report available on the FEC’s website as of Tuesday morning. It’s unclear if Canseco hadn’t filed one or if the FEC simply was delayed in processing it. Jim McGrody, another GOP challenger, reported raising a paltry $7,172.90.

AUSTIN — Ed Owens, who Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed as Conservator of the Texas Youth Commission on June 1, announced Monday that he’s ready to ditch the post he’s held less than six months.

Owens’s announcement came on the eve of the expected publication of a report detailing progress and operations at the Commission during his tenure, and two days before the House Corrections Committee is to meet to consider matters related to the troubled juvenile prison system.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has announced she won’t seek a fourth term in the United States Senate when her current term ends in 2012, and indeed that she may leave office earlier, possibly to challenge Texas Governor Rick Perry in the 2010 race for Governor.

Hutchison has long been considered the wild card in the 2010 governor’s race, and her entry into the field — regardless of whether Perry seeks a third term — could result in a bruising primary against other Texas GOP leaders reportedly eyeing the post, including Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Harris County Tax Assessor/Collector Paul Bettencourt, and others.

Hutchison was Texas’s State Treasurer before moving up to the senate — a plan which was nearly thwarted when Travis County DA Ronnie Earle indicted her in the early 1990s for misusing state office.

Noriega Leads Funding For Third Quarter Over Watts

State Rep. Rick Noriega (D-Houston) bested millionaire trial lawyer Mikal Watts of San Antonio in third-quarter fundraising in their party’s race for the nomination to face U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

Noriega raised more from individual donors over the three month period than did Watts — pulling in $508,000. Including PAC contributions, Noriega’s total climbed to around $570,000.